Instead of hurrying through the back corridor and out into the mews, Alexandra plunked one fist on her hip. “What do you think Mother wants with Father?”
Hannah shrugged and shifted the basket in her arms again. “I’m certain I don’t know, my lady.”
Alexandra cocked her head to the side and stared toward the study. Her parents lived in the same home, but they could always be counted upon to keep to their own worlds. Her mother managed the household, the shopping, and the social affairs. Her father managed his property, his seat in Parliament, and his outings to the club. Theirs was quite an efficient marriage, actually. Alexandra rarely saw them in the same room together. Such a spotting would be a novelty.
“It cannot be good,” Alexandra breathed. No. If Mother was going into the study in the middle of the day, something was wrong, and Alexandra had a sinking feeling that that something might very well have to do with her. “You don’t suppose it’s because of my failure in Society, do you, Hannah?”
There were few secrets Hannah wasn’t privy to. The maid was Alexandra’s closest confidante, outside of Thomas. It wasn’t as if she could talk to her sister. All Lavinia ever wanted to talk about was herself. “Oh, no, my lady,” Hannah hastened to assure her. “Your mother cannot fault you for your … your…”
Alexandra sighed. “You might as well say it.”
Hannah winced. “Your late blooming,” she finished magnanimously.
Alexandra shook her head slowly, biting her lip. “It’s more than late blooming, Hannah. I’m a wallflower. A complete failure.” It was true. Despite her list, despite her wishes and dreams, Alexandra’s debut last spring had been a dismal failure. No handsome gentleman had asked her to dance. No other gentlemen had asked her either. Not even the unhandsome, ineligible sorts. It had dampened her spirits, to be sure, but it hadn’t crushed her dreams. No, those were still impossibly intact.
Hannah continued to whisper. “It’s not your fault that Lady Sarah Highgate has captured the attention of all the eligible gentlemen this Season. She’s a diamond of the first water.”
“Yes, and I’m a rock in the brackish bit.” Alexandra laughed.
“Now, that’s not true, my lady,” Hannah replied loyally. “But your mother has already told you that you cannot marry until Lady Lavinia does. So I’m certain the duchess is not concerned with your marital prospects. Besides, Lady Sarah will no doubt be engaged before the Season’s end, and the rest of the gentlemen will come to their senses. They say the Marquess of Branford intends to offer for her.”
The Marquess of Branford was the most eligible of all the Season’s bachelors. Well, he was the one with the most prestigious title, at least. Which practically made him the most eligible. The fact that he’d declared himself to be in the market for a wife also didn’t hurt. He was handsome and titled and rich, but Alexandra hadn’t given him a second look. He wasn’t Lord Owen Monroe, after all.
She took a tentative step toward the study. “Be that as it may, I don’t think it could hurt to have a quick listen.”
“My lady!” Hannah gasped.
Alexandra turned around and gave her maid a pleading look. “You know I cannot help myself. Please don’t judge me, Hannah. I need you.”
“Very well, my lady.” Hannah nodded.
“Let’s leave the baskets here.” Alexandra pointed to a spot behind a table in the corridor. The two women stooped and pushed their baskets behind the table to hide them. Then they sneaked down the marble-floored hallway and around the corner and tiptoed toward the door of the duke’s study.
Alexandra held her breath. Eavesdropping was detestable, of course, but sometimes necessary. What if something truly awful were happening? What if, God forbid, Mama had picked out a suitor for her? Alexandra would be forced to stop it. Only one man would do for her. Granted, a man who had been noticeably absent from events of the Season to date, a man who had never declared himself ready or willing to take a bride, a man who preferred drinking and gambling to all other decent pursuits. But that didn’t concern Alexandra overly much. She would find a way for their paths to cross now that she’d officially made her debut. Besides, it was true that she had been merely fifteen when she wrote that list and chose Lord Owen Monroe. She should get to know him better before she made a final decision, but there would be time for that. She had to ensure that Mama didn’t have other plans first. And to that end, a bit of properly timed eavesdropping seemed to be in order.
Alexandra and Hannah sneaked up to the study door. Thankfully, it was cracked. Mother’s high-pitched breathless voice was floating about inside the room. Alexandra leaned forward and pressed her ear near the opening.